Publisher removed from Microsoft 365: what to do with your .pub files
On or shortly after October 1, 2026, the Microsoft 365 update that removes Publisher reached subscribers. From that point Publisher can no longer open or edit .pub files, and it cannot be reinstalled. Microsoft's advice is to convert existing files to PDF (to keep a copy) or Word (to keep editing). This page explains your options and lets you convert files straight away.
What happened to Microsoft Publisher
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | Publisher is removed from Microsoft 365 as the update rolls out. Subscribers can no longer open or edit .pub files in Publisher, and it can no longer be installed. |
| October 13, 2026 | Publisher 2021 (the perpetual licence sold with Office 2021 / Office LTSC 2021) reaches end of support together with Office 2021. It keeps working without updates or support. |
| Microsoft's advice | "Convert your existing files to another format": PDF to view, Word to keep editing. Microsoft's bulk script (Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1) only works on a PC that still has a licensed Publisher. |
Source: Microsoft's support article "Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026".
Three things to do this week
- Find your .pub files. Search for
.pubin File Explorer, OneDrive and SharePoint. Church offices, schools and clubs often find hundreds of old newsletters and flyers. - Convert the ones you still need. PDF for the archive, Word for documents you will keep updating. The bulk converter handles up to 200 files in one go.
- Pick a replacement for new documents: see Publisher alternatives.
Microsoft's own bulk method, and why it may not help you
Microsoft published a PowerShell sample, Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1, that exports a folder of .pub files to PDF. It automates Publisher itself, so it only runs on a PC that still has a licensed, installed Publisher. If your subscription copy is already gone, the script has nothing to drive. That is the gap this site fills.
What converts well, and what doesn't
| Content | Word (.docx) | |
|---|---|---|
| Text boxes, headings, columns | Exact | Good, positions may shift |
| Pictures, logos, clip art | Exact | Kept as images |
| Tables | Exact | Usually recognised as tables |
| Shapes, borders, backgrounds | Exact | Converted to images or dropped |
| WordArt and text effects | Often missing | Missing |
| Master pages, page numbers | Mostly kept | Partly |
That is why every file shows a preview first. If the preview is wrong, don't pay: write to us and we will try it by hand, or use the free offline methods.
Free offline ways to open a .pub file
- LibreOffice Draw (Windows, Mac, Linux, free). Install LibreOffice from libreoffice.org, open the .pub file with LibreOffice Draw, then File → Export as PDF. This is the same engine this site uses, so the result will look like our preview.
- Scribus (free). File → Import can read Publisher files, with similar limits.
- Someone with Publisher 2021 (perpetual). It still works after October 13, 2026; ask them to File → Save As → PDF, or Export → Pack and Go.
- Microsoft Word cannot open .pub files. It can open the PDF you get from any of the methods above (File → Open → choose the PDF), which is exactly what the Word download here automates.
Related
FAQ
Will my .pub files be deleted?
No. The files stay on your disk, OneDrive or SharePoint. You just lose the program that opens them, so convert them to PDF or Word.
Can I reinstall Publisher from Microsoft 365?
No. After the removal update, Publisher is no longer available for download or installation to subscribers.
I still have Publisher 2021 with a perpetual licence, does it stop working?
It keeps working after October 13, 2026, but without updates or support.
What does Microsoft recommend instead?
Word for newsletters, flyers, labels, certificates and brochures; PowerPoint for posters and banners; templates on Microsoft Create.